Mobile bale handling equipment



Oct. 28, 1952 E. A. MILL-ER ETAL ,615,

MOBILE BALE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Feb. 7, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS E/NER A. M/LLER ELMER MA) W 5 WM A r T-ORNE VS E. A. MILLEREIAL MOBILE BALE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Oct. 28, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 7, 1949 mm Z MMM m m Wmm NM km 0L Q0. Q% E g E b9. 3 mm 3 N nm em Ewk mm U E 5 mm Q mam o A. mu 6 ww 8 m P QB R s a) m? l g F av mm? RWQEgg .1 7 m aw E m .8 Wm

ATTORNEYS Oct. 28,1952 E. A. MILLER EI'AL MOBILE BALE HANDLING EQUIPMENT5 Sheets-Sheet '3 Filed Feb. 7, 1949 INVENTORS E/NERAM/LLER ELMERLMAV BY77.14%; W

ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1952 E. A. MILLER ETIAL MOBILE BALE HANDLINGEQUIPMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 7, 1949 INVENTORS E/NER A. M/LLERELMER MAY WW 4 WM ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1952 E. A. MILLER E'FAL 2,615,536

A MOBILE BALE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Fi1ed Feb. 7, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I//v l EN TORS E/NER A. MILLER ELMER. MAY

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A 'TORNEVS Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNlTED I STATE 1 s, PATENT. gt-OFFICEMOBILE. BALE EQUEMEM,

Yucaipa, Calif. Appncationr br uary 7, 1949, Serial No. 74,982

This invention relates to mobile bale handling equipment, and morespecifically contemplates a truck incorporating means for lifting balesoff hay or the like from the ground for stacking in the truck and forsubsequently redepositing the 8' Claims; (01. 214'-83.16)

ally and in many instances when the temperature is very high, workmenare not easily avail able. Removal of the collected bales and restackingat the point of storage isequally d'iflicult. The time spent in removingthe bales fromthe field correspondingly delays the irrigation of thefield and the growth of a new crop for subsequent cutting.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide atruckequipped with an inclined conveyor by which the balesmay beelevated from the ground'incident' to proper direction of f the truck bythe driver to-facilitate stacking. of the bales within the truck, incombination with means for subsequently unloading the entire stack as aunit at the point of intended storage.

More specifically, an object hereof is to provide a conveyor mechanismsuspendedfr'om the: side of a truck equipped with a load-supportingvbed,

embodying a pair of platforms disposed at difier 7 ent heights above andlaterally of the: bed,;the,

with a bale-supporting bed normally suspended in elevated position withrespect to the ground but adapted to be lowered onto the ground with thestacked bales thereon to facilitate unloading of the bales onto theground.

Another object is to provide an unloading frame normally forming theforward end of the load-supporting bed in combination with means forshifting the frame rearwardly so as to push the bales in stackedcondition from the bed onto the ground, this operation being effectiveto;

compress the stack and thereby minimize soaking of the bales by rain ortheir excessive drying by wind during storage,

Still another'ob'jectis to provide the power and transmission mechanismfor actuating ,the conveyors, raising'and lowering the load-supportingbed and for shifting the unloading frame as required, in response tocontrol means adapted for convenient location whereby all mechanismincluding the truck itself may be actuated and "controlled by the driverof the truck.

Still another object is theprovision of means to obviate lateraloscillation or vibration of the vertically movable bale suppor'ting bedduring operation of the truck.

Stillanother object is the provision of means for pivotally supportingthe entire lower eonveyor' assemblyin combination with runners dependingfrom its lower end to contact the ground and raise the conveyor overobstruction while in use, and a hydraulic lift to elevate the assemblyfrom the ground when not in use.

Numerous other objects and salient features of my invention, such forexample, as simplicity of operation; particularly in the manner in whichthe upper conveyor is displaced for moving bales onto the lowerplatform, the provision of hyd'raulically powered means for raising andlowering the lower conveyor, the provision of a roller intermediate theconveyor'toperform the dual function of assuring the complete movementof the'bales onto the lower platform'whenthe upper conveyor is not inuse, and t'o transport the bales fromoneconveyor to theother whenoccasion demands, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon anexamination of the following descriptionread m the light of theaccompanying I drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a truck equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation foffthe truck illustrating particularly-theframe by which a stack of bales is unloaded; l

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary,perspectiveview of the lower conveyorillustrating the meansfor direct ing the lower conveyor overobstructions and the guide rails for thebales to be loaded;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the" unloading frame and actuating.means therefor;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged" fragmentary side elevation of the load-supportingbed" and chassis;

showing one of the hydraulicrar'ns for lifting the bed and one ofv theguides sfor resisting lateral displacement of the; bed;'"

Fig,. .f7. a broken plan view of one of the tubular guides by whichthe'unloadinlg fiar'n'e susis a top'planview of the truck shown-in Fig.is a diagrammatic view showing the relationship of the mechanisms bywhich the power of the truck engine is distributed to the truck wheelsand conveyor, the meansforactuating the unloading frame, and the pumpfor producing pressure in the hydraulic system;

Fig. 11 is a broken perspective view'of the upper conveyor assembly,showing the innerframe of the latter in elevated inoperative position.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the numerals of which indicatesimilar parts throughout the several views 10 designates generally atruck comprising a frame, a cab! l for the driver, and front wheels 12.The'forepart of the frame is conventional in form and accordingly is notillustrated. Rearwardly of the cab I l, the frame comprises a pair ofparallel beams 13, which define the sides of the chassis of the truck,and a transverse beam l4 connected between the foremost ends of thebeams 13. The U -shaped chassis frame 15 thus formed is rigidlyconnected to the forepart of the truck chassis by parallel frame members[6. A plurality of uprights I! mounted in spaced relation upon each beam13 of the frame and connected across the upper ends of the latter byreinforcing rails l8, comprise the sides of the load-receivingcompartment of the truck. The uprights I! are reinforced by a series ofbraces l9. The rear of the truck is sustained by wheels journalled uponstub axles 2| which are mounted, in a suitable manner well known to theart, to'the respective beams l3 so as to support the frame 15 in anormally horizontal position. The power of the truck engine (not shown)is transmitted through a drive shaft 22 and conventional differentialgearing (the housing for which is indicated at 23) to a pair of lateralshafts 24 disposed intermediate the cab Ii and the loadreceivingcompartment. Sprockets 25 carried by the ends of the lateral shafts 24are engaged by drive chains 26 by which the power is transmitted to therear wheels 20 in an obvious manner.

The load-receiving platform or bed 21 is similar in shape andapproximates the size of the U- shaped chassis frame l5 formed by beamsl3 ered into close proximity with the roadbed' when required. Supportfor the bed 21 of the truck against the underside of the frame l5, andthe control of its vertical movement is provided by four hydraulic jacks28, two of which are located in spaced relationship at each side of thebed 21. Each jack 28 comprises a cylinder 29 mounted by suitable meansin vertical position to one of the beams IS. The piston rod 30 of eachjack 28 extends from the lower end of the cylinder 29 and is connectedto a bracket 3| projecting laterally from the adjacent edge of bed 21.Hydraulic pressure is supplied to the cylinder 29 of each jack below thepiston 30 'hose32 for'return to the pump 33.

4 therein through a hose 32 leading from the sump of a pump ofconventional construction, indicated generally at 33. Power foractuation of pump 33 is supplied by a shaft 34 leading from thetransmission (not shown) of the truck. The shaft 34 is equipped with asprocket 35 which is engaged by a chain 36 for transmitting the rotarymotion of the shaft 34 to a sprocket 31 connected to the pump shaft 38.Asthe details of this pump mechanismare well known in the art and formno part of the present invention they are not illustrated. Fluidpressure in each jack 28 is relieved when required through theConventional means for controlling the introduction and relief 10fhydraulic pressure into and from the several jacks 28 are preferablylocated in the cab II 'of' the'truck so'as to enable the driver to varythe elevation of the bed 21 at any time.

The downward movement of the bed 21 is limited by four chains 39connected between the respective ends of the beams 13 on the frame andthe corresponding corners, respectively, of the bed'so as to suspend thebed from frame l5 in close proximity, but in spaced relationship, to

the roadbed when hydraulic pressure is relieved from the jacks 28.

In order to obviate lateral oscillation of the bed during movement ofthe truck over rough titerrain and to thus avoid excessive lateralstress upon the pistons of the several jacks 28, we provide four guidesfor the bed located at opposite sides of the back of the truck chassis.The guides at each side of the truck consists of a heavy tube 40 mountedrigidly in vertical position in an opening in the beam l3. The upper endof a rod 4| is telescoped snugly within each tube 40 and the lower endof the rod is secured rigidly to the marginal edge of bed 2'!.itherebelow. The snug fit of the rods 4| within the respective tubes40, while permitting vertical movement of the bed in response toactuation of the jacks 28, resist, relative lateral movement between thebed and frame throughout the range of movement of the bed.

In order to further reinforce the described relationship between the;frame 15 and bed 21 dur ing the unloading operation, as is hereinaftermore in detail described, a pair of chains 42 are connected between thetruck frame members located beneath the cab .l l and the forward end ofbed 21. Each chain 42 .is normally slack but is of a length to be drawntautwhen the bed is in its lowermost position so as to supplement theguides 4l'l-4l in preventing rearward movement of the bed while the loadis pushed from the truckby the unloading frame, about to be described.

Above and extending transversely acros the forward end of the bed 27 isan unloading frame 43 for moving bales stacked upon the bed from thelatter in stacked condition and onto the ground or other areaof'intended storage. The frame 43 is rectangular and of a lengthslightly less than the distance between the sides of the load-receivingcompartment, and is suspended above the bed, in vertical, parallelrelation to the beam l4 of the frame, from said sides. A

pair of longitudinally split tubes 44 are rigidly mounted in horizontal,parallel relationship across the uprights ll and braces 19 forming therespective sides of the truck at a height above the bed, when thelatter'is in its uppermost position, slightly more than one-half theheight of aerasee the frame. The tubes 44 are arrangedwith the arcs inwhich the splits are formed, flankingv the unloading frame 43 and inopposition to one another. .A pin- 45 extends laterally from the middleof each vertical side member of the frame 43 into the bore of theadjacent tube 44 through the split in the latter. Each pin 45 is securedrigidly in a rod 46 slidable within .the tube 44 so as to resistrotative movement of the pins and the tilting of the frame. Thus theframe is suspended by the pins 45 and tubes 44 from the sides of theload-receiving. compartment and may; be shifted longitudinally of thetruck incident to movement of the rods 46 in a corresponding directionwithin the bores of-the split tubes. Power for the movement of theunloading frame 43 from the forward end of the loading area to the backof the truck and for its return to original position-is supplied by theengine of the truck through the transmission and take off shaft 34-. Asecond sprocket 41 carried by the rearward end of the shaft 34 isengaged by a chain 43 which transmits the power to a sprocket 49 of agear reduction unit 50, so as to drive, at uniformspeeds, a pair oflaterally pro jecting shafts Spools 52 carried on the outer ends of theshafts 51 are disposed .in substantial alignment with the respectivetubes 44. A pair of cables 53 and 54 are connected to each spool 52 oneof which extends rearwardly below and parallel to the tube 44 at thecorresponding side of the truck, to the rear end of the frame l5, whereit passes over a pulley 55 journalled to the rearrnost upright I! of theside of the truck. From theupper arc of the pulley 55 the cable 53 ateach side of the truck projects forwardly into the bore of the adjacenttube 44 and is secured to the rod 46slidable within the tube. The othercable 54, normally reeled upon each pulley 55, extends directly into theadjacent end of the tube 44 at the corresponding side of the truck forconnection to the opposite end of the rod 46 therein. Thus rotation ofthe shafts 5| and spools 52 in one direction exerts tension upon thecables 53 and draws the unloading frame43, suspended by the rods 46within the respective tubes 44, rearwardly to the back of the bed, thusunreeling the cables 54.

The loading of the truck is facilitated by a sectional,conveyorsuspended pivotally from the drivers side of the truck in amanner about to be. described. The conveyor comprises generally fastenedto the uprights I! at the corresponding.

side .of the truck below the level of the upper rail R8, or,selectively, upon an upper conveyor section 58. Bales deposited upon theplatform 51 are accessible to a workman standing upon the bed 21v toassist the loading of the truck, and may be drawn from the platform 57between the uprights ll of the side of the truck for stacking upon thebed. The outside and back of the platform 51 is enclosed by a. railing59 to prevent the bales from inadvertently falling from the platformbefore being withdrawn by the workman.

The lower conveyor 56, by which the bales are raised from the ground,comprises a frame composed of a pair of angle irons 60 held in parallelspaced relation by a plurality of transverse braces BI and a pair ofinverted U-shaped members 62 overhanging the area between the angleirons 60. 63 indicates railings supported by each angle iron-60 todefine the 'sides'of the lower conveyor. The up er end of the lowerconveyorv is pivotally 'supportedzon the side of the truck forward ofthe platform 51 by a shaft 64, journalled in-suitable bearings carriedby hangers suspended from the forward end of the platform. The lowerconveyorframe is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 64 so as to permitunrestricted rotation of theshaftand the pivoting of the conveyor framerelative to the shaft. The lower end of the conveyor .56 isvariablysupported by hydraulic meanscomprising a cylinder 65 and piston (thelatter, not shown) to which a rod 66 is connected. The cylinder 65 ispivotally mounted upon a bracket 61, projecting forwardly from the endof the adjacent frame element I3- and the piston rod 66 is similarlypivoted to the center of the brace 6| which is located intermediate theends of the conveyor frame. Thus, most of the weightof the lower section56 of the conveyor assembly is carried by the piston and rod 66 in whichhydraulic fluid is supplied from the'pump 33 by a hose 68. The controlof the flow of fluid under pressure between the pump 33 and cylinder 65is preferably located in the cab I! so as to enable the driver toraise-and lower the lower conveyor 56 while driving the truck, inaccordance with specific requirements.

Keyed on the shaft 64 in equi-spacedrelation between the angle irons 60forming the sides of the conveyor are a pair of sprockets 69 for a pairof conveyor chains 16. The lower endsof the chains 10 pass over thesprockets H of a pair similarly mounted on an idler shaft 12, journalledin bearings 13 secured to the underside of the respective angle irons 60adjacent the lower end of the conveyor section 56. Each of the chains 10carries a plurality of teeth l4;

equi-spaced along its length and projecting outwardly from the'chain forengagement of the bales against which the lower reaches of the chainsare moved in accordance with the'operation of the device, and forretaining the bales on the upper reaches of the chains as the same aremoved upwardly in response to the application of power to the upperconveyor shaft 64.

The chains 10 are driven from the drive chain 26 for the rear wheel 2i]located at the corresponding side of the truck. A sprocket I5 mountedupon a stub shaft 7'6, journalled in a bearing carried by the adjacentupright I! of the'side of the truck is arranged for continuousengagement with the upper reach of the drive chain 26 adjacent sprocket25. A second sprocket I1, mounted on the shaft I6 is engaged by aconveyor drive chain 18 which passes over a sprocket 19 carried by theconveyor drive shaft 64 at the upper end of the conveyor. Thus, thelower conveyor chains 10 will be continuously driven while the truck ismoving in response to the power of the engine regardless of the angle ofinclination of in bearings carried, respectively, by a plate 8!,

flanking the forward end of the platform '51and by the adjacent upright.I'! of the side'of the" truck. The roller is positioned horizontally,

above the forward end ofjthe platform 51 slightly" below the plane ofthe upper reaches of the lower conveyor chains I8 so as to receive thebales from the latter. Each bale is thus tilted over the roller 88 andfalls upon the platform free of the teeth 14 of the chains 18.

In accordance with the use of the truck in collecting baled hay undernormal circumstances, the truck will ordinarily be driven over roughterrain on which the hay is grown. Accordingly, the lower end of theconveyor is equipped with a pair of runners 82 having their forward endscurved upwardly so as to enable the conveyor to ride over any ordinaryobstructions that might be encountered in the field.

To facilitate the engagement of the teeth 14 of the conveyor chains 18with bales to be loaded and lying on the ground, arcuate guides 83 aremounted at opposite sides of the lower end of the conveyor frame. Theguides 83 are curved outwardly in opposite directions whereby movementof either of the guides against a bale on the ground tends to shift thelatter into the effective path of movement of the conveyor whereby theteeth I4 of the chains 18 will engage and raise the bale, as abovedescribed.

The upper conveyor section 58 comprises an outer frame forming astructurally independent but functional continuation of the lowerconveyor assembly. Secured rigidly to the upper end of the conveyorsection 58 is a platform 84 which is supported in horizontal position ata height considerably above the top rails I8 of the sides of the truckso as to receive bales elevated from the ground by both conveyors, as ishereinafter more in detail described. The outer frame of the upperconveyor 58 comprises a pair of.

angle irons 85 which are secured in parallel relationship and spacedapart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the sidesof the lower conveyor frame 56 of which the respective angle irons 85are continuations. The outermost angle 85 is secured rigidly to theupper platform 84, and its lower end is similarly attached to the plate8| comprising a part of the lower platform 51. The inner angle iron 85of the upper conveyor frame is also connected at its upper end to theupper platform 84 and-at its lower end to a plate 88 flanking the lowerplatform The inner and outer angle irons 85 each support a railing 87for resisting lateral displacement of the bales carried by conveyor 58.

Pivotally carried by the outer frame of the upper conveyor assembly isan inner frame 88 comprising angle irons 89 and cross members 98, thelatter to. maintain the same in spaced relatively rigid relationship.The width of the inner frame 88 is only slightly less than the width ofthe outer frame whereby the angle irons 89 of the former normally restsupon and are supported by the angle irons 85 of the latter or outerframe. The upper end of the inner frame 88 is pivoted upon an upperconveyor drive shaft 9i, which is journalledin hangers 92 carried by theouter frame 85 adjacent the upper end of the assembly. for a purposelater described. Mounted upon the shaft 9I-in spaced relationship, areapair ofsprockets 93 which are engaged by a pair of endless conveyorchains 94 similar to chains 18. Chains .94 extend to the lowerend of thedouble conveyor frame section 58 where they pass over awpa'ir, of idlersprockets 95 mounted upon a shaft 98 1jo'urnalled in bearings suspendedin the lower endbffthe inner frame 88. The chains are each equipped withteeth 91, equi-spaced apart so as to project upwardly from the upperreach of the chains for engagement of bales directed onto the upperconveyor 58 from the lower conveyor 56 and roller 88.

When bales are to be moved onto the lower platform 51 the upper conveyor58 is pivotally displaced from its normal position, as immediately abovedescribed. For this purpose, we provide a hydraulic ram 98 comprising acylinder 99 pivoted upon a bracket I88 projecting laterally from the toprail I8 of the adjacent side of the truck, and a. plunger, reciprocablewithin the cylinder 99. Connected to the piston is a rod II'II which ispivoted to the middle of an intermediate cross member 98 of the pivotedconveyor frame 88. The lower end of the cylinder 99 is connected by ahose I82 with the pump 33 whereby introduction of hydraulic pressureinto the cylinder 99 below the piston therein is operable to raise thelower end of the upper conveyor 58 from alignment with the lowerconveyor 56 and open the lower platform 51 to reception of bales raisedby the lower conveyor.

Power for the upper conveyor is transmitted from the drive shaft 84 ofthe lower conveyor 58 and to this end the latter shaft carries a bevelgear I83 at its outermost end which is in mesh with a complementarybevel gear I84 secured to the lower end of an inclined shaft I85,journalled in bearings carried by the outer angle iron 85 of the upperstationary frame. The upper end of the shaft I85 is operativelyconnected to the upper conveyor drive shaft 9| at the upper end of theconveyor by bevel gears I88. Thus, actuation of the lower conveyor 56 bythe chain I8 and shaft 84 will coincidentally rotate the shaft 9I, bothshafts being turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l.

The operation of the conveyor system is briefly described as follows: Inaccordance with conventional practice hay as it is baled is dropped inthe field in which it is grown for subsequent collection and storage.The present conveyor is adapted to pick up the bales from the ground andshift each bale onto one or the other of the platforms 51 and 84'.

When not engaged in actually picking up bales, the lower conveyor 58 maybe supported in elevated position with respect to the ground by thehydraulic jack 65-88 controlled from the drivers cab. In this manner,the truck may be driven across the field at a higher speed than wouldotherwise be possible. Preparatory to stacking bales within the truck ata level below the lower platform 5'! the upper conveyor 58 is elevatedby the ram 98 out of alignment with the lower conveyor. When the truckapproaches a bale to be loaded, the lower conveyor 56 is lowered untilthe runners 82 touch the ground whereupon the driver directs the lowerend of the conveyor chains 18 against the bale by proper direction'ofthe truck. In the event that the truck is misdirected slightly theabutment of one or the other of the curved guides 88 will assist indeflecting the bale against the chains 18 of the lower conveyorwhereupon the teeth of the chains will engage and raise the bale ontothe lower platform 51, as hereinabove described, the upper conveyorhaving been previously elevated by the hydraulic jack. A workman ridingupon the loading bed 2'1 immediately pulls the bale from the platform5'! between the uprights ll of the side of the truck and positions thebale upon the bed in proper position for accommodation of other bales. ISuccessive bales deposited upon the lower platform 51 are stacked uponthe bed in layers until the stacked bales reach a height 9 approximatingthe level of the platform 51. Thereuponthe upper conveyor 58 is lowered,incident to relief of pressure within thehy-draulic ram 98, onto theouter frame 85 into alignment with the lower conveyor. from the groundby the lower conveyor are pushed over the roller 85 and into engagementwith teethof the upper conveyor 58, which latter elevates the bales ontothe upper platform 84 from which they may be pulled by the workman tocontinue the stacking operation upon bed 21.

When the stack of bales upon the bed has reached the height of the upperplatform 84, the lower conveyor 56 may again be elevated and the truckdriven to the point at which the bales are to be unloaded. The unloadingof the truck is accomplished as a single unitary operation. The bed 2'!is first lowered to a position closely adjacent to the ground by agradual releaseof pressure within the hydraulic cylinders 29. Power isthen applied to the spools 52 so as to tension the cables 53 connectedto the unloading frame 43 and coincidentally the truck is moved'forwardat a speed corresponding to or slightly less than the speed of rearwardmovement of the frame 43 across the bed 21 in response to reeling of thecables '53. The pressure of the 'frame l3 against the stacked balesmoves the entire stack rearwardly from the bed and onto the ground, thebed being moved forward from under the stack as the successive columnsof the bales are pushed onto the ground. It will be appreciated that thepressure required to push the entire load from the bed will besubstantial and that as a result the stack will be compressed'if thetruck is driven forwardly at a speed not greater than the speed ofmovement of frame 43 rearwardly over the bed. In order to assure thecompression of the stacked bales the truck may be braked slightly tolimit its forward movement in response to the pressure of the frameagainst the load. Thus the bales are stacked in closer relationship thanwhen stacked manually, resulting in the double advantage of obviatingexcessive drying by the wind and tending to resist saturation by rain.The chains 39 obviate or minimize friction between the bed and theground so as to facilitate the unloading operation and the chains 42prevent undue stress upon the guides 4il-4l tending to result from thefriction between the load and bed as the bales are pushed from thelatter. After the load has been removed from the bed, the unloadingframe is returned to its original position at the forward end of theloadreceiving compartment by reversing the rotation of the pulleys 55 soas to reel the cables 54 and thereby draw the frame forwardly.

The single embodiment depicted in the drawings is susceptible tonumerous changes in size, design, shape, number and proportion of theirparts and more specifically may be equipped with a floating rear axleextendingbeneath bed 2'! and adapted to be lowered with the latter forpurposes of unloading, and that the conveyors 56 and 58, platforms 5'!and 84, and sides of the truck may be formed to accommodate and retainloose, bulk products, in which case a solid movable wall of suitabledimensions may be substituted for the unloading frame 43 shown, withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a conveyance comprising an engine and Thereafter bales lifted aframe supported by wheels upon a road bed, a load-receiving bed, meansto normally support said bed at a level substantially above the roadbed, means to raise and lower said bed, means to limit the downwardmovement of the load-receiving bed to a level slightly above the levelof the road bed, an unloading frame carried by the frame verticallydisposed above said load-receiviing bed, means to shift said unloadingframe rearwardly :from a position above the forepart of the bed to pusha load from the load-receiving bed onto the roadbed and to compress theload, an actuating member to transmit the power of the engine'to saidlast-named means, and means to brake the conveyance during rearwardmovement of the unloading frame to resist forward movement of the truckincident to resistance of the load to compression. 7

'2. In a conveyance comprising a frame supported by wheels upon a roadbed, .a load-receiving bed, means carried by the frame of the conveyanceto .raise .and lower said bed relative to said wheels, means to limitthe downward movement of said bed to a level slightly above the roadbed, an unloading frame disposed above the forepart of said bed, meansto shift said unloading frame rearwardly across said bed, and flexibleelements connected between the frame and said bed to limit rearwardmovement of the bed during actuation of said unloading frame.

3. In a conveyance comprising a frame supported by wheels upon a roadbed, a load-receiving bed suspended from said frame, a pair 0f-p1atforms carried by said frame at different levels above the level ofsaid bed, the lower platform being disposed forward of the upperplatform and adjacent the forepart of the bed, an inclined conveyorcarried by said frame and extending normally from the forepart of saidlower platform to adjacent the road bed, a second conveyor pivotallycarried by said frame extending between the upper end of the lowerconveyor and the upper platform, and means to pivotally displace thelower end of said upper conveyor from alignment with said lowerconveyor.

4. In a conveyance comprising a frame supported by wheels upon a roadbed, a load-receiving bed suspended from said frame, a pair of platformscarried by said frame at different levels above the level of said bed,means to raise and normally move onto said lower platform material to beloaded upon said load-receiving bed, a conveyor carried by said frameextending between said platforms, whereby said conveyor will receivematerial to be loaded from said firstnamed means and carry the same tosaid upper platform, and means to shift said conveyor into and out of aposition between said first-named means and said upper platform.

5. In a conveyor comprising a frame supported by wheels upon a road bed,a bed and sidewalls, a pair of platforms mounted at different levels toone of said sidewalls so as to project laterally of said load-receivingcompartment, a'first elevator to raise material to be loaded into saidcompartment from the road bed to the lower platform, a second elevatorabove the first to raise material from the first elevator to the upperplatform, and means for placing said second elevator in and out oftandem relation with the first elevator. I

6. In a conveyor comprising a frame supported by wheels upon a road-bed,a bed and sidewalls, a pair of platforms mounted at different levels toone of said sidewalls so as to project laterally of said load-receivingcompartment, means to elevate material to be loaded into saidcompartment from the road bed and to direct the same to either of saidplatforms, selectively, and means to raise and lower saidload-receivingbed relative to said platform.

7. In a conveyor comprising a frame supported by wheels upon a roadbed,a load-receiving compartment comprising a bed and sidewalls, a pair ofplatforms mounted at different levels to one of said sidewalls so as topreject laterally of said load-receiving compartment, means comprising aconveyor interposed between the roadbed and the lowermost of saidplatforms to elevate from the roadbed material to be loaded to saidlower platform, and means comprising a second conveyor interposedbetween said platforms to receive material to be loaded into saidcompartment from said lower conveyor and transmit the same to theuppermost of said platforms.

8. In a conveyor comprising a frame supported by wheels upon a roadbed,a load-receivin compartment comprising a bed and sidewalls, a pair 4 ofplatforms mounted at different levels to one of said sidewalls so as toproject laterally of said load-receiving compartment, means comprising aconveyor interposed between the roadbed and the lowermost of saidplatforms to elevate from the roadbed material to be loaded to saidlower platform, and means comprising a second conveyor interposedbetween said platforms to receive material to be loaded into saidcompartment from said lower conveyor and transmit the same to theuppermost of said platforms,

12 and means to displace the lower end of said second conveyor fromload-receiving position with respect to said first-named conveyor,whereby said first conveyor is operable to direct material to be loadedonto the lowermost platform.

EINER A. MILLER. ELIVIER I. MAY.

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